Colorado Avalanche: Redrafting The 2007 NHL Draft
The Colorado Avalanche’s 2005 and 2006 drafts were all but successful. Looking back at them actually hurt a little bit, as too many picks were wasted on players that never got anywhere near playing in the NHL.
I can promise, at least the first round selection was a pretty good one again and it is definitely worth looking at. The draft’s real stars are other players, though. After selecting Jonathan Toews in 2006, Patrick Kane followed and joined the Chicago Blackhawks a year later. Logan Couture (SJS), Max Pacioretty (MTL) and Ryan McDonagh (NYR) are part of the 2007 draft class as well.
But let’s focus on the Avs. What did they do, what could they have done better? Eligible to be redrafted are all players that were selected after the Avalanche’s respective pick and before their next pick.
Next: Round 1
Round 1
Jan 30, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; St. Louis Blues defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk (22) celebrates his shoot goal against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The St. Louis Blues defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
18th overall:
Colorado Avalanche pick — D Kevin Shattenkirk
New pick — D Kevin Shattenkirk
Kevin Shattenkirk is a member of the St. Louis Blues today and only played one season for the Avalanche. So why bring him in again, when there is a guy named P.K. Subban available? Well, without Kevin Shattenkirk, we would not have our No. 1 on D, Erik Johnson. Even without taking that trade into account, I said that I would like to keep as many picks as possible and Shattenkirk is an extremely good player. Perhaps not Subban-good, but really good.
Next: Round 2
Round 2
Mar 17, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds (17) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
45th overall:
Colorado Avalanche pick — D Colby Cohen
New pick — C Dana Tyrell (47th to TBL)
Not many that don’t follow AHL hockey and other minor leagues will remember Colby Cohen. He scored more than one point per game in the USHL in his draft year, despite being a 6-foot-4 defensive defenseman that also recorded 110 penalty minutes in 53 games. Definitely a player that is worth a shot. However, he only appeared in three NHL games, all for the Avalanche. He went over to Europe a few years ago and now plays in the United Kingdom.
Dana Tyrell is not exactly a star either. However, unlike Cohen, he did establish himself as an NHL player. He appeared in 135 NHL games to this day.
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49th overall (from CGY):
Colorado Avalanche pick — G Trevor Cann
New pick — LW Oscar Möller (52nd to LAK)
We didn’t have many options here, as the Avalanche had two second round picks rather close together, resulting in the eligibility of only five players. Still, we got a decent player here. Trevor Cann never played a game in the NHL and cannot be expected to ever do so. It’s unfortunate, but you know the risk when picking a goaltender early in the draft.
Oscar Möller, a Swedish forward, got selected three picks after Cann. Once considered a big talent, Möller only played in 87 NHL games for the Kings. After never being able to establish himself in the league, he decided to go home to Sweden after a long time in North America. Last season he left his home country once more to play in the KHL. He is a very good forward, also for the Swedish national team, and I can still see him returning to the NHL one day.
55th overall (from ATL):
Colorado Avalanche pick — T.J. Galiardi
New pick — RW Wayne Simmonds (61st to LAK)
The Kings did a better job than the Avalanche in Round 2. Two picks in a row are stolen from them as we redraft. T.J. Galiardi was awesome for a while, he really was. He played some awesome games on the most awesome line of hockey with Brandon Yip and Matt Duchene. However, he never really broke out and is now in the AHL.
Wayne Simmonds, however, really panned out. He was probably only okay, Galiardi-caliber perhaps, until he got traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. While Galiardi’s production went way down after his trade, Wayne Simmonds climbed higher and higher up the NHL career ladder.
The Colorado Avalanche did not pick in the third round.
Next: Round 4
Round 4
Apr 3, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) scores two goals against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
105th overall:
Colorado Avalanche pick — C Brad Malone
New pick — LW Dwight King (109th to LAK)
I am discovering a scheme here. The Los Angeles Kings did a much better job in the 2007 draft. Well, kind of. Neither Oscar Möller, nor Dwight King are exceptional. Brad Malone has 119 games and 24 points on his record so far and also played for the Avalanche in the NHL.
However, Brad Malone is an offensive-minded forward that never translated his production into NHL points. Dwight King did, although that isn’t even his main task. King is a reliable bottom-line checker that is good at just that.
113th overall (SJS):
Colorado Avalanche pick — G Kent Patterson
New pick — LW Jamie Benn (129th to DAL)
This is where it gets a little depressing. The Colorado Avalanche decided to pick yet another goalie that would never play an NHL game. Kent Patterson and Trevor Cann — two goalies that never made the big leagues.
Don’t worry, that wasn’t the depressing part yet. The Avalanche could have had 2014 Olympic gold medalist and 2015 NHL top-scorer Jamie Benn instead. Well, sh-t.
Next: Round 5
Round 5
Apr 9, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (6) skates against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
135th overall:
Colorado Avalanche pick — LW Paul Carey
New pick — D Jake Muzzin (141st to PIT)
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Paul Carey looked like a really decent pick for a really long time. After going the NCAA route in the four years after the draft, Carey joined the Lake Erie Monsters looking like a legit professional hockey player. He climbed up the depth chart quickly, making his first 12 games for the Avalanche in 2014. Ten more games followed in 2014-15, but he only recorded one point and got traded to Boston, where he has only played for the Providence Bruins so far.
Jake Muzzin on the other hand, is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the LA Kings. Not that he was one of the key players and I am also not saying that the Avalanche would win two Cups if they had him. But he is the better player today and would for sure be a key defenseman for the Avalanche today.
Next: Round 6
Round 6
Mar 17, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; St. Louis Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson (4) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. St. Louis Blues won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
155th overall (WSH):
Colorado Avalanche pick — D Jens Hellgren
New pick — D Carl Gunnarsson (194th to TOR)
In the sixth round of the 2007 draft, we have two Swedes going to the Avalanche. In the real draft, it was Jens Hellgren. Right, never heard of him. Well, that isn’t true, I have heard of him. But that is probably due to the fact that I live in Europe and Hellgren never left his native Sweden for hockey.
Carl Gunnarsson, however, is an NHL regular. He turned into a really good NHL defenseman in Toronto, before being traded to the St. Louis Blues to help them with their Cup-run. They failed and lost to the Wild in Round 1 of the playoffs, but Gunnarsson is still a very good player.
Next: Round 7
Round 7
Mar 3, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun (61) skates with the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Rogers Arena. The San Jose Sharks won 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
195th overall:
Colorado Avalanche pick — LW Johan Alcen
New pick — D Justin Braun (201st to SJS)
With the last pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, we are picking another defenseman. Johan Alcen is a Swedish forward that has spent his entire career in Sweden, just like Jens Hellgren. He is active there to this day.
Justin Brown is another NHL regular. After spending quite some time with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks, he joined the NHL and just got better and better. He has played 287 NHL games so far in his career.